Christmas won't be the same! Santa Claus is dead - and his tomb was discovered in Turkey
Researchers unearthed a temple underneath the Saint Nicholas Church in the Demre district.

Researchers unearthed an intact temple underneath the Saint Nicholas Church in the Demre district.
A special section was found in the temple during scientific and technological works, with speculations that the tomb may be buried there.
Researchers came across an untouched shrine while conducting digital surveys below the surface of the church, said Cemil Karabayram, Antalya Director of Surveying and Monuments in Turkey.
#History. The original tomb of St. Nicholas in Myra: Santa Claus’ three graves https://t.co/69BjYrnbCS pic.twitter.com/TahPLfehi1
— Kathleen O'Neal Gear (@GearBooks) December 17, 2016
Scientific and technological studies had revealed the existence of an intact tomb under the church, researchers said.
You can visit the bones of Santa Claus at his tomb in Demre, Turkey! http://t.co/hB8X7tHdiW (via @cultofweird) pic.twitter.com/VPSmIRm6mk
— Peter Fries (@Peter_Fries) December 9, 2013
Till now it was believed that the bones of St Nicholas were in Italy, researchers said.
"We studied all of the documents from between 1942 and 1966. There were some notes there. According to these notes, this church was demolished and rebuilt.
Tomb of St Nicholas...yes, Virginia there was a Santa Claus..body sent to Turkey, but later returned to Jerpoint Park pic.twitter.com/qUeQZxyQ
— Max Wise (@maxwellwise) August 31, 2012
Researchers have been working for three months and a CT scan, a geo-radar and eight academics have been brought in for the excavation work at the last stage.
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